Standish tax preparer pleads guilty to preparing a false tax return

By Tim Barnum
Staff writer

Posted
10/17/08

STANDISH TOWNSHIP — Sally Scheall, 45, of Standish, plead guilty to willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns, according to Acting United States Attorney Terrence Berg in a press release issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Oct. 16.

“The Arenac County Independent” originally reported Scheall’s arrest on March 12, 2008.

The press release says according to court records, Scheall willfully prepared 123 tax returns claiming Schedule “A” deductions in amounts she knew were materially false and that the taxpayers weren’t entitled to claim in the years 2004-06. By filing these fraudulent tax returns, Scheall caused the IRS to issue inflated refunds equalling over $230,000.